An animal rescue team was initially tasked with the rat rescue but was unsuccessful in securing its release, before the fire department was called in. After lifting the manhole cover, the rat was freed with the help of a ‘fixation rod' - and a simple twist of the wrist.

The rat was released into a nearby park, presumably already planning to cut down on the calories and work towards a summer beach body.

When asked if tying up resources to save a trapped rodent in one city while setting up traps to poison rodents in others was a contradiction, animal rescuer Michael Sehr told the DPA “even animals which are hated by many deserve respect”.